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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Classic Barbecued Beef Burgers

When
it comes to Summer and barbecue season you can't let it pass without
making plenty of burgers as you can't beat a perfectly grilled,
slightly charred burger enjoyed outside on a sunny day. We eat
burgers quite a lot – they are just so versatile and make the
perfect Saturday night feast (even in the winter!). You can change
things up by varying what you put on your Burger but we always have
to have cheese, lettuce, red onion and pickles! Special occasions
call for sauteed mushrooms, bacon and occasionally spicy jalapenos
and of course I can never resist some slices of fresh tomato.
Finished off with some mayonnaise, mustard and tomato ketchup and you
have the perfect finger-licking burger!

In
a small pan heat the oil then sauté the onions for 5 minutes until
they have softened. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute then
remove from the heat and allow to cool. Once the onion and garlic
have cooled put them in a large bowl with the mince, Worcestershire
sauce, parsley, breadcrumbs, egg, salt and pepper. Mix well so that
everything is completely combined (it’s best to use your hands for
this), then divide the mixture into 4 equal sized pieces.

Line
a large tray with greaseproof paper and shape each one into a ball.
Place on the lined baking tray and press down with the palm of your
hand until you have a large burger, roughly ¾ inch thick
(alternatively if you have one use a burger press). Repeat so that
you have 4 large burgers.

Pre-heat
your barbecue to high (if using a gas or propane BBQ) then turn the
heat down to medium. Carefully put the burgers on to the barbecue and
cook for 5-6 minutes per side until sizzling, slightly charred on the
edges and cooked through. Don't press down on them otherwise all the
juices will come out and be lost in the flames, and try not to move
them around or they will just stick. If using cheese, add the cheese
for the last minute so that it gets nice and melted.

Remove
the burgers and put on to a plate to rest for a few minutes. Grill
the burger buns until lightly toasted then start assembling your
burger with your favourite toppings and
then enjoy with an ice cold beer!

*Occasionally
we brush a little BBQ Sauce over the burgers before adding the
cheese.